Shu-Yuan Yeh, Ph.D.

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Research Bio

Dr. Yeh's research projects focus mainly on studying the roles of the estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) in urological diseases, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and in male fertility. Dr. Yeh's lab has successfully utilized a broad range of research strategies, with in vitro biochemistry and molecular biology and in vivo animal models, to delineate the biological roles of the AR and ER. In the earlier stages of her career, Dr. Yeh focused on the mechanistic study of the roles of AR and AR associated proteins in androgen responsive and hormonal refractory prostate cancer. Dr. Yeh was the first scientist to clone AR associated protein in 1996, and to create and report on AR knockout (ARKO) mice using the cre-loxP strategy in 2002. The floxed AR mouse has now been successfully applied to knock out the AR gene in selective types of cells, including cells in prostate, testis, bladder, liver, brain, and others. Continuing with her success, Dr. Yeh's lab now has established genetically engineered ERalpha knockout (ERaKO) mice using this cre-loxP strategy.

Dr. Yeh has published papers to validate the usage of Cre-LoxP ERaKO mice and found the defects of prostate ductal morphogenesis and male fertility in this established ERaKO mice model. This cre-loxP ERaKO model represents a more complete ERaKO mouse model and is being used to delineate ERa roles in urological diseases in Dr. Yeh's lab. Furthermore, the lab has identified new ER binding proteins and ER target genes involved in disease progression.

Overall, Dr. Yeh's research strength is in hormone receptors, mechanisms of tumor suppressor and animal model-related studies in prostate cancer and urological disorders. To date, Dr. Yeh has published 78 peer-reviewed papers and 17 review articles on urological diseases. Currently, Dr. Yeh's research projects are supported by the NCI and the Department of Defense.